JANESVILLE  The Rock County Sheriff’s Office will host a National Night Out event from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Purdy Park, 100 W. Church St.

The event is free to attend and all are welcome. Free hot dogs, chips and soda will be available throughout the night.

The night will feature demonstrations from the Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT team, its K-9 unit and the Orfordville Fire Department. Also on display will be the office’s SWAT truck and trailer, a Dodge Charger patrol vehicle and a Harley-Davidson patrol motorcycle. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions.

Games and other activities are also planned for the kids.

Sgt. Douglas Coulter said the National Night Out events are a great way to show the community that law enforcement officers are real people—good guys who just want to help keep people safe.

“It’s very important for us to get out there (in the community) because kids grow up with a fear of police,” Coulter said. “We want to partner with the community to try and curb violence, drugs, alcohol abuse and crimes against anyone.”

Area businesses from across the county donated money to make the event possible, Coulter said. As an added bonus, donated bicycles and rounds of golf at area courses will be raffled, Coulter said.

Last year, the event was held in the town of Rock. Two years ago, it was in Footville. Coulter said the goal is to move the program around in an effort to reach out to different communities.

National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch to promote police and community partnerships. The Janesville Police Department is holding its own National Night Out on Tuesday evening at the Janesville Police Department, 100 N. Jackson St.